THIS WAY HOME by Author Marcia King-Gamble

Welcome to friend and fellow author, Marcia King-Gamble. Marcia's here today to answer some questions and share an excerpt from her book, This Way Home.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Is your book based on real-life experience or a figment of your imagination?

Definitely not life experience. I’d be petrified to live in one of those houses. The story is loosely based on the old Marla Hansen story; the model who was mugged in Central Park and her face slashed.

If you could trade places with one of the characters from your book, who would it be and why?

Erik , my hero I just love. He’s an artist. I tend to go for anyone with a creative bent. I love the way the mind works. Plus he was a man’s man and very insightful.

If you listen to music while you write, what are the top three songs on your playlist?

I rarely listen to music while writing, and although I am not much of a TV watcher, lately it seems to drone on in the background, More often than not there’s a dog in my lap partially asleep on the keyboard.  I can write with any distraction. I can write and hold a conversation. 

About the Book

Liza Hamilton left her upstate New York hometown to chase her dreams in New York City. But her success as a supermodel was short-lived when she was mugged in Central Park and her face slashed. The once-perfect face that made her a fortune now does not exist.

Determined to put this traumatic event behind her, Liza returns to her hometown and opens a vintage shop. Peace and quiet evade her when her long lost stepbrother also puts down roots there. Complicating things is an irresistible attraction between them, and a home Erik inherited that Liza thinks should be her mother's.

Strange things happen in their respective homes that turn out to be stops used by escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad. Although Liza does not trust Erik, the couple join together to find out what is happening to them.

Believing that Erik stole the home that rightfully belonged to her sister and mother, she continues to keep him at arms length. But a shared past, and homes with a history continue to throw them together. Can they trust each other? Will love prevail? Will their ghostly ancestors intervene?

 

Read an Excerpt

Liza wanted to hate Erik, but instead she found herself liking him more and more. She sat next to him in the pickup truck fully aware of his masculinity. His shoulders touched hers and the heat coming from his skin seared her. She had to keep reminding herself that he’d stolen her mother and Sara’s inheritance and that he was her stepbrother.

Running into Cassie and Kalib had been a big surprise. They seemed to be getting along well and Liza was happy for Cassie. God knew her life hadn’t been easy. She’d been crazy about her husband and devoted to those girls. But Cassie had always been insecure, and that illness of hers had taken over, ruining everything. Liza wondered if Cassie was still seeing her therapist  and trying to get a handle around her bulimia, or if she had simply given up and allowed it to control her life.

“What’s got you looking so down?” Erik asked breaking into her musings.

Liza smiled at him. He was so in tune and so insightful. No man with the remnants of morning shadow should look that good.

“I was just thinking what a coincidence it was to run into Cassie and Kalib.”

“Small world,” Erik said dryly, making a right and turning down a narrow road.

Liza focused on his hands, long fingers loosely holding the steering wheel. Hands that she bet would feel right at home on her body.

“That was quite a story the old man had to tell,” Erik said abruptly, with skepticism in his voice.

She felt the need to defend Sam. “He would have no reason to lie.”

“It’s strange that you and I would choose places to live that were depots on the Underground Railroad. Maybe he made it up.”

Had they chosen those homes or had the homes chosen them? She didn’t want to go there. She already felt guilty that her motivation for going out with Erik wasn’t entirely pure.

 

Meet the Author

Romance writer, Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean island where the sky and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry executive has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas.

She has contributed to Michael Fiore’s DigitalRomanceInc and served as a moderator on the now defunct eHarmony advice boards.  Having witnessed the bad, the ugly, and the not so good in relationships, she still prefers to write about happily ever after. Caring for her animal family keeps her grounded and sane.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Amazon

A big 'thank you' to Marcia for visiting today. Come back again soon for more authors, books, and tours.

Nancy

BOOK BIRTHDAY: TEACH ME by Nancy Fraser

Woo Hoo! Another Book Birthday! Two in one month is a thrill. Thankfully, it's only books and not real years I'm celebrating.

Earlier this month I shared the third book in my Love's a Gamble series, The Engagement Gamble. Now, we're moving out of the post-Civil War period and back into Contemporary Romance.

Not just contemporary, but erotic romance. Teach Me, the third installment in my Lusty Liaisons series from The Wild Rose Press, released yesterday.

Touch Me, Book 1 in the series and Trust Me, Book 2 are both on sale for 99¢

About the Book

Med student Jayne Willis is devastated when she's stood up for a date arranged by hookup service Lusty Liaisons. Really, who stands up someone willing to have sex?

Widowed professor Noah Gallagher's chance encounter at a hotel bar with an alluring young woman is unexpected but might be just what he needs. He's on the last leg of a cross-country trip prior to returning to the university, ready to start a new chapter in his life.

One lonely widower looking to reconnect plus one beautiful, albeit inexperienced, young woman equals one hot night. Will she get an A in lovemaking, and will he get a hall pass back to life?

Read an Excerpt

As cliché as it sounded, it truly was a dark and stormy night. Not nearly as dark as Noah Gallagher’s mood or as stormy as his thoughts, but still not the optimal weather for driving.

The outskirts of Chicago were minutes away. Two exits off the highway at most. With little hope of the storm letting up, pulling over for the night made the most sense. Noah shook his head in self-admonishment. When, if ever, had he been guided by common sense? Certainly not for the past eighteen months. Certainly not since…Ellen.

The familiar stab of heartbreak shot through him at the speed of light, lessened somewhat by time but still there whenever he needed a jolt of reality. This ill-advised cross-country trip was just the latest in his flights of fancy, his vain attempt to put some excitement back in his otherwise nondescript life. To forget.

The fall semester was less than three weeks away. He had until then to get this feeling of wanderlust out of his system. It wouldn’t do for a tenured Ivy League professor of English Lit to be seen as a flighty mess of self-pity and abject anger.

Which meant, for all intents and purposes, he needed to get his head on straight and his shit sorted out as quick as humanly possible. Beginning with his pent-up energy, his need to get back in the saddle, so to speak. What he needed was a night of hot sex. No commitment, no morning-after regret. Just sex.

He took the first exit toward Inverness, one of Chicago’s upscale suburbs. Within minutes, he pulled into the parking lot of one of the chain hotels and took a spot directly opposite the entrance.

Grabbing his overnight bag from the backseat of the truck, he ran to the carport. Shaking off the worst of the downpour, Noah stepped through the sliding glass doors and stopped to survey the standard-issue hotel lobby. The welcoming sight of the bar beckoned him. Checking in was his first priority, followed by dry clothes, and afterward a drink and some greasy bar food.

What would Ellen think? His conscious prodded him, reminding him of his late wife’s penchant for healthy eating.

She’d think I’d fallen down the rabbit hole without her to pull me out.

~ ~ ~

Watch the Trailer

Complete the Jigsaw Puzzle

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you'll come back again soon.

Nancy

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MIDNIGHT MASQUERADE by Author Anya Summers

Notes From a Romantic’s Heart welcomes Author Anya Summers. Today we’re featuring her new book Midnight Masquerade. And don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below for your chance to win a $25 gift card!

GENRE: Contemporary Romance (steamy/bondage)

About the Book

Sophia is in trouble. Again.

Maybe it’s the masks. Maybe she needs to feel something other than regret. Whatever the reason, she is either daring… or foolish… when she trades places with another submissive, and ends up spending the night in her mysterious boss’s bed.

 

He doesn’t recognize her, but now she’s had him, she knows one taste of his dark love will never be enough.

 

Gabriel Ryan has one firm rule: don’t sleep with employees.

 

Even though he’s infuriated beyond measure to discover Sophia in his bed after a night of mind-blowing pleasure, she is now in his blood. He craves her. Needs her. Yearns for her surrender.

 

But she is forbidden. He will break her with his dark desires.

 

When Sophia’s dangerous past waltzes into his club, Gabriel must protect her. He must claim her. And break every single one of his rules to keep her safe.

~ ~ ~

Available on Your Favorite Platform

Read An Excerpt

By the time he ventured down into the Eros Pit, his exclusive, members only BDSM club hidden a floor beneath Eternal Eros, he was in no mood to play. It had been a spectacularly long day at the office. Shame, really, that his mind and body weren’t on board, given the submissive bounty in his club.

But tonight, he would participate in the event, under threats and orders by Sophia. He sighed over the fact that he could deny the woman little. And she had badgered him from the start about joining in the events each month, until he finally yielded.

Granted, that might have had something to do with the way she had stood in his office earlier today, her hands on her lush hips, a fierce scowl on her face and a glimmer in her eyes that told him that she would forcibly escort him if needed.

He’d folded like a house of cards while ignoring what the sight of her in his office did to him and his libido. Gabe refused to let his dick do his thinking for him, no matter how much Sophia stirred him.

In the elevator, he adjusted the black mask covering his face. He’d not changed into a costume, as much as his event coordinator had pestered him to wear one. The woman had gone so far as to have a costume made for him. But he couldn’t see himself prancing around in the dandy seventeenth century garb, not even to make her happy. Instead, he had stuck with his black suit and navy-blue tie. His one concession, besides his willingness to participate tonight, was the mask covering the top half of his face.

And the mask was all Sophia would get out of him.

The mood in the Eros Pit most nights tended to be more subdued—with the extra added elements of scenes in progress and muted music—than the club upstairs. That was by design on his part. At least, it usually was more laid back, with scenes at various stations and the occasional high-pitched moans from submissives. But tonight, with the masquerade event, the air in the Eros Pit held a thrill of excitement. Submissives in their exotic costumes were grouped together, talking excitedly, wondering who they would end up with for the night.

All participating Doms had been given a station in one of the scene areas or private rooms a floor down. Then the submissives, in their erotic ball wear, selected from a bowl a marker with the scene area and Dom listed. The submissive would head to the scene area or private room upon selection, and then the Dom would join them once all the selections were made.

It was a rather brilliant strategy and way of introducing unattached Doms and submissives to one another. In participating, they were agreeing to scene with another for the night—and possibly more, depending on the connection.

And the place was packed to the gills tonight.

Scanning the crowd, Gabe discovered that even his rapscallion brothers were in attendance—and had gotten into the spirit of the event, given their costumes, or most of them had, anyhow. Dean was a no show, but that had been the norm the last few months.

The submissive selection process was already in progress, with peals of laughter and squeals of delight from the women. It was arranged so that by midnight, all the submissives would be at their stations. With time to kill before he went to his private room, Gabe made his way through the throng to his private section of the club. Most nights there were available subs standing near the black velvet rope separating his section of the club, or sitting at one of the booths or tables nearby with the hope that either he or one of his brothers would give them a nod and join them. Yet, this evening, all those subs were dressed in costume and waiting in line to select their Dom.

~ ~ ~

Meet the Author

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.

Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.

Anya's Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

BookBub | Instagram | Newsletter Sign Up

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Enter the Giveaway

Anya Summers will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour at Goddess Fish Promotions

Thank you so much for joining us today. There are more tours coming up soon, as well as new, non-tour posts by some of my friends and fellow authors. Feel free to stop by any day. Until next time, stay happy, stay healthy, stay well read!

SATURDAY SHARE by Nancy Fraser

The life of a writer is a busy one for sure. There's Intagram, Twitter, Facebook -- both personal and professional -- not to mention FB groups, group blogs and private blogs. A half dozen sites are available where you can create author pages to pimp your books.

Oh, and then there's the actual writing. That's important too.

Since I have a short break from hosting my author friends and Goddess Fish Tours, I thought I'd share some information on what's coming up for me, as well as group projects that include a whole slew of great authors.

Last week, you got a peek at the third book in my Love's a Gamble Series, The Engagement Gamble. Next week, you'll be introduced to the third short novella in my Lusty Liaisons Series, Teach Me. As much as I've enjoyed a double-release month, it can definitely be tiring.

A Sneak Peek at April

Seduced by the Handyman ~ Book #2 in my Cougars & Cubs Series

“Dammit!” Cate Matthews shut the kitchen tap off quickly, but not before water sprayed everywhere, drenching the countertop, the china she’d placed on top of the dishwasher, and a good portion of her brand-new hardwood floor.

“Let me guess,” Sela shouted from the living room where she worked unpacking boxes. “The half-assed patch job you attempted on your faucet didn’t take.”

“Shut up,” Cate groused. “I never claimed to have plumbing skills, and that Plumbing for Dummies book was less than helpful.”

Her best friend laughed heartily, arriving in the kitchen with an armful of towels. “Need these?” Sela asked.

“No. Thank you. I got most of it with half a roll of paper towel.”

Sela shot her a grin. “Are you ready to concede you need to call a real plumber?”

“I’m ready to concede this condo hasn’t turned out to be as perfect as I’d thought,” Cate admitted.

Sela pulled a bottle of wine from the fridge and took two glasses out of the cupboard.

"Perhaps you should have held out for more in the divorce. You could have been the one to keep the house, not that asshat ex of yours.”

Cate shook her head and gladly accepted the offered glass of wine, plunking herself down onto the closest chair. “It took four long years to finally come to an agreement. I was just glad to have it over and done with it.” She paused, taking a long drink of Cakebread chardonnay. “Besides, after I found out he’d screwed his last fling-of-the-month in our bed, I lost all interest in the house, and everything in it.”

“I can’t believe he admitted it,” Sela said, shaking her head, her short brown curls bouncing around her full face.

“I think it was his plan all along. He knew I’d cave and give him the house, and he was willing to pony up an extra cash settlement in exchange.”

Sela turned in her chair, scanning the open concept living area. “This is a great condo,” she admitted, “and within walking distance of the university.”

“I do love it—except for the wretched plumbing.” Setting her empty glass aside, Cate returned to organizing her kitchen. “I’ll give in and call a plumber in the morning.”

Sela stood and reached for her lightweight jacket. “I’d better get going. Ted’s due back from Boston on the eight-thirty flight and I told him I’d pick him up.”

“Thanks for the help, Sel.” Leaning forward, she gave Sela a hug. “Give Ted a kiss for me. I really appreciated his help finding this place.”

“Even with the plumbing?” Sela teased.

Cate nodded. “There’s something ironic about a forty-two-year-old divorcee who’s not had sex in nearly five years moving into this renovated warehouse.”

“How so?”

Cate grinned, a short laugh escaped. “Simple. Just like this old building, my pipes are definitely rusty."

~ ~ ~

What's Coming Up Soon

May 17, 2021

Yes--These Are Your Grandma's Romances ~ A 5 Story Anthology from the Fifties

A time of innocence, and the not so innocent. From “I Love Lucy” and “Willy” to “Private Secretary”, “Father Knows Best” and “Bachelor Father”, television and music from the fifties gave us inspiration. Come take a trip down memory lane with these five vintage reads!

Get your romance on, and make grandma proud!

June 14, 2021

I Do ... Again ~ An expanded version of last year's Last Chance Beach novella.

A well-reviewed second chance romance with a mature heroine and hero set on the island paradise of Last Chance Beach. This book will be a #FREE lead-in to the new series of stand-alone, full length romances, all set on Last Chance Beach.

July 5, 2021

Return of the Runaway Bride ~ The 2nd book in the Last Chance Beach Romance Series

Can this runaway bride return to Last Chance Beach to make amends with the friends and family she left behind? How will she handle it when she finds out she's not the only one who's returned to the island?

August 17, 2021

This month is still under wraps! Let's just say, it's going to be HUGE and exciting!

September 6, 2021

Millie's Aweseome Christmas Miracle ~ Another #FREEbie to whet your whistle!

September 20, 2021

Not Nearly Enough ~ My (personal) most anticipated release of the year!

Steamy enough to peel the paint off your bedroom walls!

October 18, 2021

Christmas Carole ~ A Dickens Holiday Romance

November 15, 2021

His Secret Santa ~ Will she be naughty or nice? Definitely naughty!

December 13, 2021

Happy New Whatever ~ Ring in the New Year with some real excitment!

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That's it for me at the moment. Whew! I'm tired just thinking about all I have to accomplish yet this year!

Nancy

EVERY LITTLE LIE by Joan Reeves

 

Today, we welcome fellow author and friend, Joan Reeves, to the blog to talk about her new release, Every Little Lie — available on Kindle as well as other great Retailers for the enticing price of just 99¢!

About the Book

Sometimes you win. Sometimes you learn a lesson. Usually the hard way.

This time the lesson was all about closure, and Elizabeth Stoneham knew with every brain cell she possessed that the lesson was going to be another hard one.

Elizabeth returns to Houston to carry out her legal responsibilities as the executrix of her mother’s estate. She’d left home nearly ten years ago. In all those years, she’d not visited or called her mother, and her mother had reciprocated—as if they had a silent mutual understanding to leave each other in peace. Peace? She’d found none in her self-imposed exile in Dallas.

After all this time, why had her mother…lured her back? That’s what naming her as executrix was. A lure. Bait for the trap. Since Elizabeth had followed in her adored father’s footsteps and become a lawyer, her mother knew she wouldn’t ignore a legal responsibility.

Perhaps her mother had mellowed as she’d grown older? Did she seek closure from the grave? No. Closure was a myth woven from hope and longing. There would be no closure, but maybe she’d be able to solve the biggest mystery of her life—why her mother had hated her.

Despite her resolve, staying at her mother’s house brings back all the memories she’d worked so hard to smother. In a moment of weakness, she allows herself to be swept away by her mother’s captivating new neighbor. She wants the mindlessness of passion to banish the pain—at least for a little while.

The only problem with that kind of temporary solution is that a woman can become ensnared if she’s not careful.

Every Little Lie has the Passion of Romance and the Drama of Women's Fiction.

~ ~ ~

Read an Excerpt

Her cell phone buzzed and vibrated against the hard surface of the nightstand. The electronic sound penetrated the deep sleep Elizabeth Stoneham had embraced after too many nights of lying awake, eaten up with anxiety over throwing away her career as a lawyer.

She reached for the phone but succeeded only in knocking it to the carpeted floor. The noise stopped, and she drifted back to sleep. A couple of minutes later the phone buzzed again. Finally, it stopped. Damn it. Who was calling? Not Sandy who was all but living with her boyfriend since Elizabeth had more or less moved into Sandy’s apartment. Her best friend knew she’d planned to take an over the counter sleep aid. That left Phillip. God’s gift to womankind.

Before she’d resigned from the Dallas law firm where she’d worked since she’d received her law degree, Phillip, another lawyer in the firm, had been persistent in his pursuit of her, but he hadn’t crossed the line into sexual harassment. After she’d left the firm, he’d upped his game. Even though she’d made it abundantly clear she wasn’t interested in him—ever—the jackass wouldn’t take no for an answer. The last time he’d called, drunk by the way he slurred his speech, she’d told him to leave her alone because she wasn’t interested in men.

His laughter had been derisive. “So it’s true. Stoneheart Stoneham really is a lesbian.”

No, it wasn’t true, but Elizabeth didn’t care if he thought that if it would make him leave her alone. It made no difference what he, or anyone, thought. The moment she’d decided to quit her law practice, she’d also decided to quit caring what other people might think. She was nearly thirty and had spent most of her life trying to please others. From now on, she was going to please herself. Live life on her terms. Whatever the hell that meant.

When the phone buzzed again, she snapped on the lamp and retrieved it from the floor. Her breath caught as she saw the number on the caller ID. A number that hadn’t appeared on her phone in nearly ten years. Shivering in the cold air, she sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the phone display. Frugality forced her to keep the thermostat set on sub-arctic even though January had been colder than usual, but the chill spreading through her body was due to more than the room’s temperature.

Instinctively, Elizabeth knew nothing good would come from this call.

She answered anyway.

~ ~ ~

My Review

As with most of Joan Reeves' books, I read this one in a single sitting. I laughed, I cried (tears of angst, not sadness), and I enjoyed.

The characters weren't perfect, which was what made them all the more interesting. Their challenges were believable and worthy of their happily-ever-after.

If you want a great, fun, and fairly quick read, you need to grab a copy of Every Little Lie!

~ ~ ~

About the Author

Joan Reeves—Keeping Romance Alive...One Sexy Book at a Time—is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance. From romantic comedy to romantic thriller, her fiction has the premise that it's never too late to live happily ever after.

Joan lives her happily-ever-after with her hero, her husband, in the Lone Star State. They divide their time between a book-cluttered home in Houston and a quiet house at the foot of the Texas Hill Country where they sit on the porch, stare at the star-studded night sky, and listen to the coyotes howl. Be the first to know about new books and giveaways by signing up for Joan's Free Newsletter When you confirm your subscription, you’ll receive a download link for a free romance novel (ebook).

Joan's Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon Author Page ~ BookBub

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Another day, another wonderful author and book! Come back again soon for more of the same! Until then, please stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy, and stay well read.

Nancy

THE BRANTONS: A Collection by Bonnie Edwards

Happy Monday everyone! Today we welcome my fellow author and friend, Bonnie Edwards, to the blog to discuss The Brantons: A Collection. On sale at the moment for a very enticing price of 99¢! I got my copy!

About the Collection

Three fun, steamy romances about lost love returned, new love found and brand new chances for first loves.

The Brantons have had some peculiar twists in their love lives...but look out! Love hasn't given up on them yet!

Body Work: Tyce and Lisa – A second chance on first love romance

Lisa Brady Delaney left Tyce Branton and the trailer park where they grew up in her rear view mirror. Years later, he’s the only one who can help her keep an important promise. Will love bring these two together again?

Tyce hates that he wants Lisa again at first sight, but can he keep his hands off when he’s a hands-on kind of man? Now, she's an independent beauty who will never need him again.

Slow Hand: Teri and Jared—A runaway bride learns what she really needs

Leaving behind a wintry New York, stressed-out bride Teri Branton is determined to get the Caribbean honeymoon cruise she paid for — even without the groom!

Laidback Captain Jared MacKay instantly dislikes Teri's stiletto heels and New York attitude. Until he touches her and he knows he’s doomed by love at first touch...the MacKay curse.

Jared and Teri have one short week under the sultry Caribbean sun. Will Jared's slow hand lead Teri beyond torrid sex into a lifetime of love?

Whole Lot o' Love: Ashlee and Brick—A single mom gets another chance at love

Ashlee Branton’s lottery win is giving her and her son a new, settled life back home. Except returning home means facing Cory’s father, Brick Harcourt in a most unsettling way.

But Ashlee has two pasts now, one with Brick and one with an ex who wants to crash their reunion. Will she run again or stay and sacrifice money for love?

~ ~ ~

An Excerpt

From Body Work (© Bonnie Edwards)

Tyce Branton wiped his hands on a rag and settled against the hood of the Cadillac coupe. She had great lines, long and lean, with headlights that could stall a man’s heart. Lines that could make a man’s hands itch.

Maybe it wasn’t the car that revved him up after all. Maybe it was the woman closing the back kitchen door of her Tudor mansion. Like the Caddy, her color was cream-and-white blonde while the sweep of her long-lined midsection gave her the look of speed, grace, and agility.

She was possessed of a body a man could drive and drive and drive.

Come to Papa.

And she did.

Straight across the courtyard she came. Her long legs eating the ground, hair flying back just enough to show the pink lobes of her ears, the Widow Delaney approached the middle bay of the three-car garage where Tyce stood.

Much younger than even rumor had it, she was a ripe beauty, made for a man to hold on to. Stretch out over. Sink into. As he drank in the sight of her purposeful approach, Tyce recognized a familiar swing to her walk. The set of her shoulders and the light, graceful flow of her hands by her thighs reminded him of someone.

He straightened immediately, alert to an inner rhythm he hadn’t felt in years. As her sandals hit the cobblestones, he felt an answering tattoo in his chest and farther south.

It was as if he’d seen her walk toward him thousands of times.

But this woman was no recent acquaintance. He’d never even met the deceased husband. So where and when had he met her?

The sandals she wore had slim straps at the ankles. Thin, elegant ankles. Rhinestones glittered on the toe straps. Her legs were smooth and shiny like those of a pampered mistress. Arms loose, her gait was easy but determined. Her breasts were high, firm, probably fake, while her head was set in a haughty way that said she was very much the lady of the manor.

Tilted in just that way, her chin spoke of determination and pride.

Word was she’d demanded his personal attention. His hands and no one else’s would do. This bit of information came straight from the law firm that hired him. No one else’s hands but his. The lawyer had been adamant. Still, if he’d known this woman before, he couldn’t place her, didn’t know how she’d come to ask for him.

But he was about to find out.

To cover his study he struck a match, held it to the cigarette in his mouth, and kept one eye on the Widow Delaney. From what he’d heard, keeping an eye on the widow was the smartest thing a man could do. The old guy she’d married had been taken for a ride.

He flicked the spent match away, drew on the smoke, and watched as she stuttered to a stall about five feet away.

“Tyce Branton.” Her voice, husky and soft, gave him his answer.

His belly dropped, his heart slipped a gear.

“Lisa Brady.” He said her name as a bald statement, devoid of the shock he felt.

“It’s Lisa Delaney now.” After all these years, Lisa Brady was where she wanted to be: which was as far away from where she started as a woman could get.

~ ~ ~

About the Author

Bonnie Edwards has been writing all her life, starting with a poem about Santa suffering with gout. She was seven, Santa was a thousandteen years old. Delighted with writing, she went on to write family sagas, humorous contemporary romance, romantic suspense, erotic paranormal ghost romances and more.

She may jump around within romance, but all her stories come with a tear, a laugh, and a happy ending. Published by Kensington Books, Harlequin Books, Carina Press, and Robinson (UK) Bonnie’s stories stretch from short stories to novellas and novels. Now, she's happy to be publishing her work herself.

With over 30 titles to her credit, she has been translated into several languages and sold books worldwide. Aside from standalone romances, she has 4 ongoing romance series, Tales of Perdition, The Brantons, and Love at Christmas. Contemporary family sagas find a home in Return to Welcome. She's hard at work on a brand new series coming in summer 2021. Learn about more exciting releases and get a free romance by subscribing to her newsletter—the form is available on her website.

Bonnie's Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon Author Page ~ BookBub

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That's all for today, but we've got more exciting author visits and many, many books! Please come back again soon. Until you do, please stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy, and stay well read.

Nancy

Saturday Sneak Peeks: A Week in the Life

One question writers often get asked is, "what are you working on?" A very interesting question and one that's sometimes difficult to answer.

I thought today I'd take a look back at the past week, and what I've been "working on".

As always--everyday--it's promotional efforts. At least two hours per day of tweets, FB posts, meme creation, trailer creation. Given I have three releases coming within the short span of a month, to say I've been busy is an understatement.

Social Media Activities

Earlier in the week, I shared the scoop on my latest release, The Engagement Gamble, the third book in my Love's a Gamble Series. So, as for social media posts, that book was front and center.

As if that wasn't enough to keep me busy, Amazon (in their sometimes infinite wisdom) decided to run a sale of their own on the second book in the series, His Marriage Gamble. So while extra promo for that book wasn't planned, it had to be done in order to take advantage of Amazon's surprise sale.

And, because I've also got a pre-order running for my March 29th erotic short story release, Teach Me, the third story in my Lusty Liaison Series from The Wild Rose Press, that required daily promotion.

And, with every release, and pre-order scheduled, updates to my Website are a must!

Meme Creation

In addition to updating the website with teaser memes, it's also imperitive to circulate fresh memes with your social media posts. My favorite site for meme creation is Book Brush, where I can get as complication or as lazy as I'd like.

This week my creative efforts were centered on both the March 29th release and my upcoming April 20th release, Seduced by the Handyman, the second book in my Cougars & Cubs age-gap contemporary romance series.

Finally, when creating memes, it's important to make them not only generic but also retailer specific, so you can fine tune your social media posts to retailers such as Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

Trailer Creation

It was a busy week. In addition to making two trailers for myself, I aslo created two for other authors. You saw them both earlier this week when I hosted Author Judy Cole and her book, And Jilly Came Tumbling After; as well as Breathe by Author Lucinda Race.

One of the trailers I created for myself is for the upcoming, Teach Me. Enjoy!

What I'm Working On At the Moment

And, of course the week wouldn't be complete without some time spent on my current Work-in-Progress.

With a title like, Not Nearly Enough (© Nancy Fraser, 2021), you can bet it's steamy! Here's a sneak peek at one of my favorite scenes ... the first meeting between my characters.

Forcing her attention away from the latest pair of lovebirds, her gaze clashed with the man she’d seen earlier. He’d been standing at the top of the pathway, his long fingers wrapped around a tall bottle of beer. Now, he stood less than ten feet away, his legs spread for balance on the gentle slope of grass.

He was tall, at least six-two, his medium brown hair held a hint of gray at the temples and hung to the top of his shirt collar, his face darkened by a hint of a beard. His crooked smile drew her attention to a scar that ran along his jawline.

Not bad looking. Interesting in fact, in a rugged sort of way.

While she’d been staring, he’d taken a few more steps in her direction. The closer he came, the harder she found it to look away.

“Is this seat taken?” he asked, nodding toward the empty chair next to hers.

“No, it’s not.”

“May I sit?”

She shrugged. “It’s a free beach.”

He chuckled, his laugh sending a shiver skittering across her bare arms.

“Not at the prices this place charges, it’s not.”

“True,” she said, giving him a shy smile.

He stretched out his hand. “Nick.”

She placed her hand in his, surprised by the gentleness of his grasp. “Amanda. Although I prefer Mandy,” she responded.

“Nice to meet you, Mandy.”

“You too, Nick.”

“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked.

She gave her half-full glass a shake. “I’m good. I’ve been nursing this one for a while now.” Taking a small sip, she admitted, “I’m not much of a drinker.”

“So, what brings you to San Bella Island?”

Mandy took a moment to answer, unsure of how much she was willing to share with a total stranger. “Short vacation. I needed to get away from the city.”

His jaw twitched, but he held back an actual smile. “And what city would that be?”

“New York,” she said simply. “Long Island, to be exact.”

He made a show of looking around them, scanning the whole of the resort grounds and beach. “You can’t get much farther away from New York than this place.”

“How about you, Nick? What brings you to San Bella Island?”

“Same. Vacation. I just finished a big job, and needed a break.”

She took another sip of her drink, and asked, “What do you do...for work?”

He drew his full lower lip through his teeth, as if contemplating her question. “I’m a contractor,” he told her. “How about you?”

“I’m in between jobs at the moment.”

“A perfect time for a vacation.”

“Have you been here long?” she asked. “At Diamond Key?”

“I got in earlier today. How about you?”

“Yesterday. I’m here for a week.”

He met her gaze, giving her another half-smile. “Me too, until next Saturday at least.”

A thought occurred to her. As heartbreaking and emotionally draining as her last few years had been, there was one thing she needed even more than her brief vacation.

She needed a man. Badly.

She’d never been one for casual sex, but the idea of having a brief fling set her pulse racing. And Nick, with his crooked smirk, soulful chocolate gaze, and interesting imperfections seemed like the perfect candidate for a temporary lover.

Swallowing back the last of her drink, more for courage than thirst, she wondered how one would go about bringing up the subject of sex with someone they’d just met.

~ ~ ~

That's all for today's post. Please come back on Monday and throughout the week for more authors, books, and fun!

Nancy

MAIL ORDER MARTINA by Kathleen Lawless

Today, we welcome my good friend, Author Kathleen Lawless, to Notes From a Romantic's Heart. Kathleen has a new book out. Mail Order Martina, part of the Mail Order Brides series, and also one of my favorite tropes -- the secret baby!

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Is your book based on real-life experience or a figment of your imagination?

My characters and their experiences are totally fictitious, but certain things from real life filter through in the form of character traits. Places I’ve visited or situations that happened will often form a loose base to be fictionalized in my work.

If you could trade places with one of the characters from your book, who would it be and why?

Most of my books are historical and while it’s fun to fantasize about the past in a totally romantic way, I don’t think the reality of no showers or running water is for me.

Is the setting for your book real? If so, have you been there? If it’s fictitious, is there somewhere real that you’ve used as a model?

I typically invent the place where my story takes places, loosely based on somewhere in the general area. That way I don’t have to stress about getting every little real-life detail right. Readers are not shy about letting you know if you’re wrong about something. I read a book once set near where I live and the author had tulips blooming in August. Not even possible, and that sloppy bit of research quite ruined the book for me.

About the Book

Neither of them are marriage material—but fate decrees otherwise.

A deathbed promise and a land-hungry neighbor are enough for Will to cope with after getting out of jail for a crime he didn’t commit, never mind a tomboy bride with a toddler. He thought women were sweet and gentle creatures, but Marty can outride and outshoot anyone Will knows and has no interest in the role of a traditional wife.

After their father dies, Martina and her young half-brother are displaced, so Martina travels west to make a new life for them. She didn’t count on her new husband being an ex-con whose ranch is under attack. Especially as Will believes a woman’s place is in the home, while Martina insists her place is next to him.

An Excerpt

“What the heck is going on?” A man on horseback rode up at breakneck speed and stopped inches from the wagon. Martina shaded her eyes to look up into his face, which was shadowed by the sun behind him and the brim of his hat. She had an impression of broad shoulders and unruly dark hair that nearly brushed his shoulders.

She lifted her chin and faced the man fully. “My name is Martina Owens. Mr. Thorn is expecting me.”

“Says who?”

"He does. Right here in this letter.” She dug the dog-eared and folded paper from her pocket, passed it to him, and watched as he unfolded it and smoothed the creases, his frown deepening as he scanned the contents.

Will stared down at the letter, then back up at Martina. “My brother wrote this. Before he was killed, he had some bee in his bonnet about finding me a woman.”

“He paid my way here.”

“And I’m prepared to pay your way back.”

“You’re not getting rid of us that easily,” Martina shot back. Her sharp retort captured his attention for real. His eyes narrowed, the stormy blue deepened.

Just then, she heard a thunder of hoof beats coming their way. When the dust cleared, Martina gave a sigh of relief.

A man dressed all in black dismounted. “Howdy, Will.”

“What brings you out this way, reverend?”

“Came to see you legally wed to this lovely lady.”

Will did a double-take. “On whose say so?”

“Miss Owens stopped by the rectory earlier and showed me the letter of intent. Said you failed to meet her at the train station, and she was a’ feared you mighta got cold feet.”

“There’s been a misunderstanding,” Will said stubbornly. “Harry wrote that letter, not me.”

"Now son,” the reverend said, “you know perfectly well you can’t drag a lady halfway across the country, then turn your back on her the second she gets here. Any lady who travels all this way, with no idea what’s waiting for her at the other end, does so because she has no place to go back to.” He glanced at Martina. “I get that right?”

She gave Will a determined look. “I came prepared to work and it appears to me that you could use some help around here.”

The reverend pulled his bible out of his saddle bag. “Right then. Let’s get started.”

Will sent Martina a surly glance. “You prepared to marry a con?”

She met his gaze, unflinching. “You kill anyone?”

“Nope.”

“Steal something that wasn’t yours?”

“Not exactly.”

“Planning to commit any crimes in the future?”

His eyes narrowed. “What is this?”

Even though he towered over her by more than half a foot, she lifted her chin to meet his gaze. “Anyone can make a mistake. I believe everyone deserves a second chance.”

About the Author

Kathleen Lawless blames a misspent youth watching Rawhide, Maverick and Bonanza for her fascination with cowboys, which doesn’t stop her from creating a wide variety of interests and occupations for her alpha male heroes.

Her hero, Steele, in HER UNDERCOVER COWBOY, is a modern-day cowboy, so when she was wooed by a man called Steel— while he’s not a cowboy, he is an Alpha male and her forever hero. Which is why all of her stories end Happily Ever After.

Not that she can ever stick to just one genre. So many stories to tell—never enough time.

With close to 40 published novels to her credit, she enjoys pushing the boundaries of traditional romance into historical romance, romantic suspense, women’s fiction and stories for young adults.

Sign up for Kathleen’s VIP Reader Group Newsletter to receive a free book, updates, special giveaways and fan-priced offers.

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Come back soon for more authors, more books. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy, and stay well read.

Nancy